Interview Silver Bullet? Ask This Follow-up Question to Land the Job You Want in 2017

12/12

“So, what keeps you up at night?”

While on a job interview, a Kinsa candidate recently posed this follow-up question to the CEO at one of our client companies. The candidate listened to the CEO’s response, and then replied with how he (the candidate) could help solve the CEO’s problem and make the company more successful in the area of concern.

The candidate’s response, along with his qualifications and experience (and maybe the promise of sweet dreams?), got him the job.

If you’re on the job hunt, you know you should have a few smart questions planned for when an interviewer turns the tables. But, is there a single question that can set you head-and-shoulders above the rest?

Actually, there are several.

Below, we share our favorite “silver bullet” interview questions that will help you make a lasting, positive impression with a food & beverage employer:

“What has been your best moment to date with [insert company name]?”

In addition to giving you an idea of what the culture is like, asking the interviewer to share his fondest memory delivers a more subtle (but critical) benefit: the positive feeling he experiences will be subconsciously associated with your prospects as a future employee. Smart, right?

“What new skills can I expect to learn here?

This question is a great one for a few reasons:

You demonstrate your humility by indirectly acknowledging that you don’t know everything.

You indicate your understanding that skills (not just experience) are important.

Finally, this question communicates your desire to grow in a role, and that you use skills acquisition as a criteria to evaluate an opportunity.

“How would you describe the ideal candidate for this role?”

Once the interviewer articulates his answer, you can use the information in one of two ways:

Explain (or reiterate) how your skills and experience make you the perfect candidate.

Ask specific follow-up questions to find out how you can close the gap between your qualifications and the ideal.

“How do you see this position evolving over the next few years?”

The benefit of this question is fairly obvious: if you’re asking about three years from now, the interviewer will assume that you’re looking for an opportunity to grow long-term with their organization (which is a really, really good thing).

“Is there anything you are still questioning about my candidacy which would prevent you from offering me this position?”

This is a fantastic follow-up question, because it shows that you welcome critical feedback. It also gives your interviewer the opportunity to raise concerns about hiring you that you might not otherwise have known about. What’s more, the mental process of responding to this question – and getting reassurances from you – removes any lingering objections or doubts in the interviewer’s mind. You can leave the interview knowing that “all the cards are on the table,” and that you’ve done everything you can to make a great impression.

Want more great advice to help you land the food & beverage job you want in 2017?